“We're one of the peaceful groups,” Jayza hurried to add.
“That's little encounter out in the hallway didn't look like the result of a peaceful discussion,” Lin said. She glanced at Herin and both women exchanged thin smiles.
“More accurately, those six we brought in are the results of an intelligence search. We believe in reasonable discussion, obtaining facts and comparing benefits and problems to be had by either staying in the Commonwealth or seceding and rejoining the Conclave."
“It sounds to me, just from your name,” Herin said quietly, “that you've already decided which is the better choice."
“Ah, yes.” The woman blushed slightly. “We chose the name to facilitate easier communication and obtaining information. If we were to say we supported Gemar staying in the Commonwealth, the more violent secessionist groups would turn against us. Until the attack on the administration building and the death of your mother, Captain Herin, the scales were only slightly tipped in favor of the Commonwealth. Any cause which uses and endorses violence to obtain its ends is automatically suspect."
“I'm delighted to hear you believe that way,” Lin said, and her thin smile widened and warmed.
“The loud and violent parties of the secessionist movement will not be. However,” Jayza held up a finger to punctuate her statement, “this attack on the spaceport has frightened more secessionists, and made them stop and think, than the public and the authorities may be aware. The death of Captain Lorian K'veer may have done more harm to the cause than they care to stomach. It was far easier than we thought possible, to discover who were the ringleaders of the plot, and capture them. Some of their own people turned them over to us."
“Tell me, Mistress Fyx,” Herin said. “Is the captain of that ship among the prisoners?"
“No. I'm sorry. We know the Nova Corona is hidden somewhere close to the city, but none of the people we captured know its exact location. Captain Alriton was supposed to return to their headquarters after bombing the administration building, but he has vanished."
“Alriton?” Lin said. “What happened to Captain Feris, the owner of the Nova Corona?"
“We have no idea.” Jayza spread her hands wide, palms up, in a gesture of helplessness. “This is all we know. We have done what we could, bringing the culprits to you. Please, Captain Herin, accept our sincerest sympathies. We sorrow with you at the death of your mother, at all the deaths which took place that day."
“Thank you,” Herin whispered.
“Could I ask a question?” Bain said in the quiet that spread through the room. He looked to Jayza. She nodded. “What happens if your group decides it is better for Gemar to rejoin the Conclave?"
“I'd like to know that myself,” Lin murmured. She winked at him.
“We will publish our findings and all our data and outline the process of reasoning we followed to reach that conclusion,” Jayza said. “Then, we will hire advocates to present our case before the government here on Gemar, and if the majority of the population agrees with us, we will go on to the Commonwealth Council."
“What if the Council says no?” Bain asked.
“It could lead to war. That is what we are hoping to avoid by following a logical path, using facts and avoiding emotion. Besides, what good is all the freedom and prosperity the Commonwealth gives us as citizens, if we aren't therefore free to leave?"
That was a very good question, Bain decided. It led to dozens more questions the longer he considered it.
* * *
Chapter Ten
“Bain, Captain Gilmore wants you to come to his ship as soon as he finishes landing,” Ganfer said.
All six Scouts had just settled down on the bridge of Sunsinger to eat lunch and talk and plan their next moves. Lin and Herin had finished their conference for the day only a short time after Jayza left them. Herin was back on the Estal'es'cai, safe with her own people. Bain had permission from Lin to tell the Scouts what had happened, but the news of the plot and the capture of the ringleaders was being kept from the public for the time being.
“Captain Gil?” Bain nearly choked on his sandwich. “What does he want?"
“His communications officer didn't say when she passed on the message."
“When is he landing?"
“The squadron is landing right now. You should probably leave in the next five minutes in order to get across the spaceport to the Rangers’ facilities."
“Rangers?” Lissy crowed. “You're friends with real Rangers?"
“He told us that a long time ago,” Don said. “Who do you think is going to stand up for us when we approach the Council for backing?” He sighed and rolled his eyes in mild frustration.
Bain put down his plate and got up from his seat on the floor. There were too many of them for the Scouts to sit in the galley booth, so they settled on the floor and spread around floor pillows and blankets and rugs, each of them could bring from their own ships.
For a few seconds, he considered diving into his cubicle and peeling out of his uniform. None of them had changed back into their everyday clothes after being on duty all morning in different capacities.
Then Bain had an idea. He grinned and imagined Captain Gil's reaction when he saw six black-uniformed youths approaching his ship.
“Come on. Everybody out.” He ran his fingers through his hair, straightening it.
“Why?"
“The Scouts are going to meet the Rangers, here and now, and we'll see just how good we really are. If the professionals accept us, we're on our way."
Grins went around the small circle. The other five leaped to their feet and followed Bain down the access tube to the cargo hold and the airlock.
The last rumbles of the landing squadron echoed across the spaceport as Sunsinger's hatch opened. Bain jumped down and turned, following his ears. He whistled softly in appreciation when he spotted five ships coming in to land. Lin had thought the Council would send a Ranger ship, maybe two, to help investigate Captain Lorian's death. Even Lin would be impressed they had seen fit to send Captain Gilmore's entire squadron.
The Scouts walked in two rows, Bain next to Arin, Trinia and Lissy behind them, and the Piller brothers behind them. Bain set the pace, a quick march, and the others fell into step almost immediately. The main hatch of the Ranger flagship opened while they were still nearly a hundred meters from the ship. Bain kept his gaze steadily focused on a point halfway between the landing fins of the ship and the hatch. The only way to keep a straight face, as well as his nerve, was to avoid looking at the people appearing in the hatch. From the edge of his vision, he was aware of movement.
Then they were nearly to the ship and the ramp made a hollow clang as it touched the cooling landing field's surface. Bain raised his gaze and stopped two meters from the edge of the ramp.
“Commander Kern?” Ranger Captain Gilmore stepped from the shadows of the airlock and paused at the top of the ramp. Hands on his hips, he surveyed the six Scouts waiting at attention.
“Captain Gilmore, sir,” Bain responded.
“These are your Scouts?"
“Those who were present when the crisis hit.” He dared to take a deep breath.
“Very impressive. I can guess this tour of duty has been running you ragged.” Gil started down the ramp, alone, though his aide and adjutant stepped out of the hatch and watched from the top of the ramp.
“Not too badly. We're probably missing twenty different areas that need covering,” Bain admitted. His lips twitched, almost aching from the effort not to grin.
“We'll see.” He stopped just within arm's reach and looked over the Scouts again. Then a grin cracked his face and he reached out and thumped Bain on the shoulder. “Good job, all of you. Your little show had my people going for a moment. We thought the secessionists had taken over."
Bain kept himself from blurting, ‘you know about them?’ He covered his near-mistake by turning to meet the eyes of his Scouts in turn. The Piller brothers were pale. Had they b
een worried, fearing they were in trouble? Lissy and Trinia both were wide-eyed, flushed, their lips twitching as if they weren't sure if they were allowed to smile just yet. Arin grinned as widely as Bain.
“We were having a meeting when Ganfer said you wanted to see me,” Bain explained. “I figured this was a good time to come over and get your input ... and show off a little,” he admitted.
“Show off is right. Where did you get the uniforms?” Gil hooked his thumb over his shoulder at his ship, then turned and headed up the ramp. Bain followed.
“From the Leapers. Most of our duties involve them, anyway. Herin—I mean, Captain Herin thought we'd be more acceptable if we looked the part."
“She's right. Well, come on, the rest of you,” the captain said, when he glanced over his shoulder and saw the other five had stayed at the foot of the ramp. “It's easier to debrief the whole team at once, or hasn't anyone told you that part yet?"
“Debriefing?” Bain barely kept from stopping short. For some reason, that simple word and all the things it implied suddenly made him a little breathless.
“Your Scouts are the first wave in. We need to get up to speed if we're going to work together.” Gil clapped his hand down hard on Bain's shoulder and shook him a little as they stepped through the hatch. “If your people are only half as good as they look, you'll have my full support. That's a promise."
* * * *
“Good work, all of you,” Captain Gil said nearly four hours later. He looked at the six Scouts ranged around his long conference table and met each one's eyes in turn. “You have the sincere appreciation of the Rangers and Commonwealth Security in this situation."
The only Rangers in the conference room were Captain Gil, his aide and adjutant and an ensign in charge of recording the spoken testimony of the Scouts. The atmosphere was informal, though the Rangers kept the questions flowing and left no room or time for small talk. Bain started the tale, since he was a witness to the attack on the administration building. The others recounted their data searches and odd events during their time standing guard or asking questions in the streets or among the Spacers.
Bain was a little startled to note that Arin and Trinia also had some odd encounters with unseen friends during their forays into the city. He mentally kicked himself for not thinking to pursue that line of questioning. He supposed the unseen friends, both in the case of capturing the Gen'gineer and in other instances, could be accredited to Jayza Fix's secessionist group.
Captain Gil agreed with his theory when Bain presented it.
“It's not the first time we've run into an underground sort of organization. They usually prefer to stay unseen, preserving their shielding as much as possible. If it becomes troublesome, then ask questions. Accept the help and respect their secrecy until then,” the Ranger advised.
At the end of four hours of talking and answering questions and dissecting ideas and events, Bain felt more tired, physically and emotionally, than if he had spent that same amount of time working in the hot noonday sunshine. It was worth the effort, though, to hear and see the Rangers’ approval.
“When you're ready to place your petition before the Commonwealth Council, call on me,” Captain Gilmore said. “You're filling a huge need in the Commonwealth. The fact that you're all Spacers, with access to ships and the Knaught Points, won't be lost on anyone."
“Do you have anyone else to refer to, any other supporters?” the adjutant, Lt. Meersia asked.
“Dr. Frurin of the Commonwealth Upper University,” Bain said. “He's a distant cousin, and I've been keeping him up to date on all our arrangements over the years. And Gorgi Cole has been studying at the university, researching everything we need to know and do and who to talk to when we're ready to become official. And I think Sister High Scholar Marnya of the Order will support us.” He paused, wondering if it was bragging, then added, “And Ambassador Lirander said he'd stand with us, too."
“Dr. Frurin and the ambassador? That's enough leverage, you won't even need my help.” Gil chuckled. “I knew you had a lot of potential when I offered to make you a cadet when you were a little boy, Bain. You've proven I wasn't wrong one bit. I'll wager Lin is proud of you."
“It's hard to tell. She's so busy, we hardly ever get to talk."
“Uh huh. Thanks for reminding me.” He stood, officially ending the debriefing session. “Meersia, make sure they're all issued communicator wristbands with locator beacons and bio-monitors. Any calls coming in from the Scouts get a priority one handling. Let the communications team know that."
“Yes, sir.” Lt. Meersia saluted and stood back as Captain Gil stepped around the table.
“Don't expect Lin to be free for dinner tonight, Bain,” Gil called over his shoulder as he left. “I have to debrief her before I put the Rangers under her command.” He flashed them all a grin, and vanished through the open door.
“Lin's in command of the Rangers?” Bain whispered. He slouched in his chair, feeling all his muscles relax at once. “I don't know if that's a bad sign, or a good one."
“A very good one,” Lt. Meersia said. She and the ensign exchanged grins. “Do you six have any idea how much easier you've made our jobs?"
“No,” Lissy said very quietly.
“You'll find out. Come on, let's get you those wristbands."
* * * *
That evening, Captain Gilmore and the Rangers appropriated half an hour on the planet's five broadcast channels to give a report on what had been discovered about the attack on the administration building.
The Nova Corona, captained by an unidentified person named Alriton, a suspected alias, was verified as the ship which flung the bombs at the building.
No one had seen the ship or its captain, not even the confessed conspirators, since the attack. The hunt was doubled, planetwide, and every citizen was asked to help in the hunt.
Ten minutes of the broadcast were devoted to the conspirators confessing before the entire planet that the attack was an attempt to drive a wedge between the Commonwealth and Gemar. Further, two of the conspirators admitted that the difficulties during the Mashrami war were caused by pirates and Conclave sympathizers, to disillusion Gemar towards the Commonwealth. Computer security systems were broken into, false alarms set off and messages asking for help were intercepted and scrambled so they never reached Commonwealth authorities.
As a result, Captain Herin of the Estal'es'cai acknowledged she was satisfied that her mother had not been deliberately killed, but that it was the result of an accident. She assured the people of Gemar that Leapers would come to the Commonwealth's universe at the planned time and begin to establish trade routes and services with all planetary governments.
Until the Nova Corona, Alriton's, and Marlin Feris’ whereabouts were determined, neither the Rangers nor the Estal'es'cai would leave Gemar. Captain Gil, Lin and Captain Herin all spoke to the people of Gemar, asking their help in answering the last few questions and solving the crisis.
* * *
Chapter Eleven
“Expansion lands?” Rhiann let go of Bain with one arm, long enough to gesture at the rocky landscape, interspersed with stretches of baked clay flats, rolling by underneath the jet-cycle. Her voice sounded scratchy and distant through the speakers in their helmets.
“Well, they have all this land,” Bain answered, “that's no use to anyone except lizards. With all this clay, there's nowhere for the rain to go, so everything floods. No useful topsoil. When the city needs to expand, it always stretches in this direction. So, expansion lands."
He glanced over his shoulder at Rhiann and grinned. The jet-cycle was small, made for only two to ride at a time. He liked the feel of her arms wrapped tight around his waist. The wind rushed by, battering at their bodies. Bain was glad for the helmets that protected them from wind and grit and heat. If only they could do something about the noise.
“Second thoughts?” he asked as he gazed out over the stark landscape ahead of them.
“No.
Well, actually,” she amended a moment later, “I'd like to know why no one else has thought of searching out this way before. It makes perfect sense."
“We've been too busy closer in to the city. Gil and his people are going to fly scanner passes all day today and tomorrow, trying to detect the Nova Corona by the metal in her hull. We're probably wasting time, going out like this to look for wherever it's hidden, but I don't like sitting still when there's work to be done."
“Lin raised you right."
“Tell her that, would you? She's still second-guessing whether she should have let me join the Rangers or live with Branda or a dozen other options.” Bain chuckled.
He felt like letting out a few whoops of exhilaration. With the morning sun slanting bright and sharp across the rocky landscape of the expansion lands, the jet-cycle humming underneath him and Rhiann sitting behind him, he was ready for anything. It was going to be a wonderful day, even if all he did was explore caves and canyons and look into any shadows big enough to hide a Spacer's ship.
Besides, according to all the calculations he had made, using visual and audio and sensor records, the territory where the attacking ship could have gone to ground to hide was only a ring a few kilometers thick stretching out from the spaceport. The expansion lands were the perfect place to hide a ship. The Hoveni were rumored to have hidden in the Nubom Mountains and the canyons between there and the expansion lands, when the Set'ri brought in heavy artillery to try to wipe them out. Why couldn't an entire Spacer ship hide as easily as a nation? If he had his way, he and Rhiann would find the ship and solve the mystery before anyone else.
Just short of twenty minutes later, they reached the rocky edges of the clay flats. The landscape immediately changed, like walking from one room to another. The clay vanished, transforming into stark granite in cones and spires where softer stone had eroded away. Fissures and crevices and ravines opened up in the hard landscape. Buttes and plateaus rose above the rubble-strewn plain, hiding canyons. Those canyons were Bain and Rhiann's goal. Bain didn't have much hope of finding the missing Nova Corona on their first try, but it was an excuse to get away from the city and get Rhiann away from more spying Gen'gineers. Coming out today would eliminate a small section of the expansion lands from the Rangers’ search area. The rest of the Scouts were searching as well, the Piller brothers as one team, Lissy and Trinia in another, and Arin flying a sonic resonator sled above the general area.
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